Hosea 2

The idolatry of the people.

Hosea 2:1 Tell youre brethren, that they are my people: and your sisteren that they haue obtayned mercye. Hosea 2:2 As for youre mother, ye shal chyde with her, & reproue her, for she is not my wyfe, neyther am I her husbande, vnlesse she put awaye her whordom out of my syght, and her aduoutry from her brestes. Hosea 2:3 Yf no I shal strype her naked and sette her, euen as she came into the worlde: yea, I shall lay her waste, and make her like a wildernesse, and slay her for thirst. Hosea 2:4 I shal haue no pyte also vpon her children, for they be the children of fornicacyon. Hosea 2:5 Their mother hath broken their wedlocke, and she that bare them, is come to confusyon. For she sayd: I will go after my louers, that geue me my water and bread, my woll and flax, my oyle and my drincke.

God's judgments against them.

Hosea 2:6 But I wyll hedge her awaye wyth thornes, and stoppe it that she shall not fynde her fotesteppes: Hosea 2:7 and thoughe she runne after her louers, yet shall she not get them: she shall seke them, but not fynde them. Then shall she saye: wel I wyll go turne agayne to my firste housbande, for at that tyme was I better at ease, then nowe. Hosea 2:8 But this woulde she not knowe, where as I yet gaue her corne, wyne, oyle, syluer & gold, whiche she hath hangeth vpon Baal. Hosea 2:9 Wherfore now will I go take my corne & wine againe in their season, and set agayne my woll and my flax, whyche I gaue her, to couer her shame. Hosea 2:10 And nowe will I discouer her folyshenesse, euen in the syghte of her louers, and no man shal deliuer her oute of my handes. Hosea 2:11 Moreouer, I wil take awaye all her myrthe, her holye dayes, her newmones, her Sabbothes, and all her solempne feastes? Hosea 2:12 I wil destroy her vyneyardes and figge trees, though she sayeth: lo, here are my rewardes that my louers haue geuen me. I wyll make it a woode, and the wilde beastes shall eate it vp. Hosea 2:13 I will punysh her also for the dayes of Baal, wherin she censed him, deckinge hym with her earynges and cheynes: when she folowed her louers, and forgat me, sayeth the Lorde.

His promises of reconciliation with them.

Hosea 2:14 Wherfore beholde, I will cal her agayne: bring her into a wildernes, and speake frendly vnto her: Hosea 2:15 there wil I geue her her vineiardes agayne: yea and the valleye of Achor also to shewe her hope and comforte. Then shall she singe there as in the time of her youthe, & lyke as in the day when she came oute of the lande of Egipte. Hosea 2:16 Then (sayeth the Lorde) she shall saye vnto me: O my husbande, and shal call me no more Baal, Hosea 2:17 for I will take awaye those names of Baal from her mouthe, yea, she shal neuer remembre their names anye more. Hosea 2:18 Then will I make a couenaunte with them, with the wilde beastes, with the foules of the ayre, and with euery thinge that crepeth vpon the earth. As for bowe, swerde and battel, I will destroye suche out of the lande, & will make them to slepe safely. Hosea 2:19 Thus will I marye the vnto myne owne selfe for euermore: yea, euen to my selfe wil I marye the, in righteousnesse, in equyte, in louinge kindnesse and mercye. Hosea 2:20 In fayth also will I mary the vnto my selfe, and thou shalt know the Lorde. Hosea 2:21 At the same tyme will I shewe my selfe frendlye and gracious vnto the heauens, sayeth the Lorde, & the heauens shal helpe the earth, Hosea 2:22 and the earth shall helpe the corne, wyne and oyle, and they shall helpe Iesrael. Hosea 2:23 I will sowe them vpon earth, for a sede to mine owne selfe, & will haue mercye vpon her, that was without mercy. And to them, which were not my people, I wil say: thou arte my people: and he shal say: thou art my God.